Do people tip in Hungary or not?
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For many years, people have been unsure about leaving a tip when they have already paid for the service free. Are they the same thing? Do Hungarians give a tip? When should you give a tip when visiting the country?
Service Fee
As Index reported, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding this topic. Some people think that service fee is the same as tipping. However, this is far from the truth. The payment of the service fee is a fixed charge for the service of food and drinks served in the catering establishments where it is applied. Therefore, you must pay the service fee when eating at a restaurant. It is the company’s income, although its name might be a little bit misleading for many. People tend to think that it is a mandatory tip, but it is not. So why does it have a special name? The service fee is part of the sale price, but every last penny can only be spent on wages. Taxing is more favourable in the case of service fees for companies. There is a very strict accounting system, so the tough controls make it impossible to “steal” this money from the workers.
Do Hungarians tip?
Data shows that most Hungarians do tip when dining out. Regular customers always give a tip. People who only had a drink or two are less likely to tip. Foreign tourists, especially Americans, tend to tip more. A worker said the following:
In the US a tip is a big part of the income of a waiter and not shared with other waiters, the cook and so on. So it is a normal thing to do.
If you have a salary a tip is extra but not something to count with, which people in the US do. So it is clear to me why Americans give a tip.
It’s years ago there were discussions in Europe about leaving a tip (in restaurants) or not. The result was no. A tip was seen (or turned into) as begging. With a salary, one should not “beg for a tip”. Restaurants even wrote on their menu tips are included!
I notice a change during the past years. If you leave a tip people act no longer offended. The only question remains how much and if that tip will be shared with everyone (let’s be honest the cook and dishwashers are not the first people you will tip).
More and more bars, restaurants and hotels have a tip box. The total amount is shared among the employees or the amount disappears in the pocket of the owner.
I wonder how many Hungarians tip, give a decent tip if they are abroad.